Report On Elura Cave Temples and Bramhanical and Jaina Caves in Western India

SR No.: 011091
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jas Burgess
Publisher: Trubner and Company London
Publication Year: 1883
Total Pages: 209
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 14 MB

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ARCHEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF WESTERN INDIA.
having a lotus bud in the left hand. On the north side wall of the entrance is a Nâganî with one hood and a dwarf female attendant, and a gendharva over her right shoulder. (13) On the jamb of the porch is a tall female-a river goddess-standing on a makara as Ganga, and resting her arm on a smaller female. A fat gandharva figure with a large chauri is over her right shoulder; that over the left has been broken away, except the chauri; and below is another attendant figure. (14) On the other pilaster has been a similar sculpture. (15) On the south side of the pilaster and return of the wall are a Nagani and a Naga figure as on the other side, with large chauri, and one gandharva over her head and two over his bearing garlands. (16) Indra, the god of the firmament and regent of the east, on his elephant Airâvati, with Indrânî, Aindri or Sachi behind, and above are gandharvas. This panel is much weatherworn. (17) Behind this a little, in a narrow compartment, is Yama the "Restrainer," the god of death, the Pluto or Minos of the Indian Pantheon and brother of Yami, the regent of the south, mounted on a buffalo. (18) The next also contains a riding figure, but much abraded and indistinctpossibly Vayu, the regent of the north-west, who should be mounted on a Bhúta or spirit. (19) Nothing is left in the next compartment, but it also was probably occupied by another of the eight Dikpälas or regents-Kuvera or Isann.
Over the water drain is (20) a large figure of Varaha, with eight arms, and five gandharvas above; the figure of Prithivi or Bhumidevi is destroyed. Then, on the return of the wall facing north are three panels-(21) Vishnu on Garuda; (22) an eight-armed Trivikrama as at Bâdâmi, but destroyed below; and (23) a figure in violent action. On the west face again are (24) Narasimha, the man-lion avatára of Vishnu, with long curls; and (25) an eight-armed figure in violent action, possibly Siva in the Tandava dance, with Parvati at his right side.
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To the south of this is a rock-cut cistern about 22 feet by 19.
On each side the entrance to the porch is a sitting figure with one foot up (lalitásana mudra)-perhaps they had beards; and on the front of the inner jamb on each side is a female with umbrella and chauri overhead, and a small attendant. Passing through the Gopuram, in which the two pillars on each side dividing the passage from the guard-roonis have been neatly carved, we find the jambe at the east end have fat figures on the front, one holding a sankh and the other a bud, out of both which a long torana or roll extends over their heads. Above are two gandharvus, and their seats are supported by lions. On the east faces of these jambs are gigantic four-armed Rudras with clubs, as dwârapalas. In the inner porch of the gateway are two sculptures in panels with side pilasters and pediments; that on the south wall is the Mahishasurî already referred to, and on the north side is a Ganesa with female chauri-bearers.
On the outer side of the north wall of the porch is the large Mahishasuri already described, and on the return wall of the court are-(1) A two-armed figure with high makata, and his right hand pressed against the upper corner of the compartment. (2) A male and female, supposed to be Kama, Manmatha, or Makarakêtu (Eros, Cupid), and his wife Rati or Rêvâ (Venus): these are represented on plate xxvi, fig. 2. (3) On the return of the wall is a single male figure. (4) A female with the hair gathered in a lump on her left shoulder. (5) A male and female with a slender palm-tree between them, the stem
1 These figures appear in the roof of the verandah of the great cave of Balami also. See Ind. Ant, vol. vi, p. 361 and plate.
The apartment markel A on the plan, Care Temple, pl. lxxxi.